Corporate & Commercial
UAE entities for Indian groups and founders, mainland and free zone options, and shareholder agreements between Indian and UAE investors.
Corporate & Commercial lawyers in the UAEInternational clients · India
Supporting Indian clients with legal matters in the UAE
This page is for Indian businesses, founders, investors and families — and for non-resident Indians living in the UAE — who need help with a legal matter in the UAE.
Rahman & Company advises on UAE legal matters from its head office in Dubai, and has an office in Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala, that gives clients in India a direct point of contact with the Dubai team. Indian clients typically come to us about setting up or restructuring a UAE company, contracts and trade with UAE counterparties, buying property in Dubai, disputes with UAE businesses or employers, and how UAE assets pass on death. Meetings can take place in Dubai, in Kozhikode by appointment, or remotely.
India and the UAE
Few bilateral relationships are as close as India’s with the UAE. Indian nationals form one of the largest communities in the Emirates, and families from Kerala in particular have worked, traded and invested in the Gulf for generations. Indian-owned trading houses, contractors, healthcare groups, retailers and technology firms operate throughout the UAE, and the UAE is a significant source of investment into India.
The legal framework has developed alongside that relationship. The India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into force in May 2022, a new bilateral investment treaty was signed in 2024, and the two central banks have agreed a framework for settling trade in rupees and dirhams. India has also notified the UAE as a reciprocating territory for the enforcement of certain court decrees, which is a question of Indian law but often shapes how a UAE judgment against an Indian-resident party is pursued. For a business or family with interests in both countries, the practical challenge is making sure decisions taken in one jurisdiction work in the other.
UAE legal services
How we assist clients from India
All practice areasDispute Resolution
Claims against UAE customers, suppliers and partners, and defending claims brought in the UAE against Indian-owned businesses.
Dispute Resolution lawyers in the UAEReal Estate & Construction
Dubai and northern emirates property for NRIs and investors in India, including off-plan purchases, developer contracts and leasing.
Real Estate & Construction lawyers in the UAEEmployment & Workplace
Employment contracts, end-of-service gratuity and workplace disputes for Indian professionals and the companies that employ them.
Employment & Workplace lawyers in the UAEWills, Probate & Inheritance
UAE wills and the UAE side of inheritance for Indian families with property, accounts or shares in the UAE.
Wills, Probate & Inheritance lawyers in the UAETechnology & Data
Technology and services agreements, data protection and platform terms for Indian IT and digital businesses serving UAE clients.
Technology & Data lawyers in the UAEFor businesses
Legal support for businesses from India
Indian companies set up in the UAE to serve Gulf and African markets, to hold regional contracts, or to give founders a base outside India. We help choose between mainland and free zone structures, prepare memoranda of association and shareholder agreements, and draft the commercial agreements a new UAE entity relies on: distribution, supply, services, technology and agency. Where an Indian parent invests in or lends to its UAE subsidiary, Indian regulatory requirements apply on the Indian side and should be handled by Indian advisers; we make sure the UAE documents line up with them.
For established Indian businesses in the UAE we also advise on partner exits, acquisitions, governance of family-owned groups and restructuring.
For individuals and families
Legal support for individuals from India
For NRIs living in the UAE and Indian residents with UAE assets, the most common questions concern property purchases, employment terms and gratuity, recovering money lent to or invested with someone in the UAE, and succession. Many Indian families do not realise that UAE property, bank accounts and company shares are dealt with under UAE procedures on death, regardless of what an Indian will says. We explain the options, including registering a UAE will where appropriate, and coordinate with Indian advisers on Indian succession and tax questions.
Typical matters
Common UAE legal matters for clients from India
An Indian SaaS company opening a Dubai entity
A Bengaluru technology company wants a UAE entity to contract with Gulf clients and employ a regional sales team. We advise on a suitable free zone or mainland licence, the intra-group services and IP licence between the Indian parent and the UAE entity, customer terms that reflect UAE data protection requirements, and employment contracts for the team. Transfer pricing and Indian overseas investment rules are coordinated with the client’s Indian advisers.
A Kerala family with property in Dubai and Sharjah
A family in Kozhikode owns apartments in Dubai and a shop in Sharjah, held in the father’s name. They want to know what would happen to these assets if he died and whether an Indian will is enough. We explain how UAE procedures apply to the properties, the role a UAE will can play, the documents heirs would need, and practical steps to take now.
A dispute with a UAE trading partner
An Indian exporter has supplied goods to a UAE importer on credit for several years, and the importer has stopped paying, relying on a disputed quality claim. We review the purchase orders, delivery records and correspondence, assess any cheques or security held, and advise on demand, negotiation and proceedings in the UAE, while flagging where parallel steps in India may be relevant.
End-of-service and a non-compete clause
An Indian professional resigns from a Dubai company after six years. The employer disputes the gratuity calculation and threatens to enforce a non-compete clause. We review the contract, salary records and the clause itself, explain the employee’s entitlements under UAE labour law and how the restriction is likely to be assessed, and advise on the complaint process if negotiation fails.
These examples describe the kinds of questions clients raise. They are not case studies, and every matter depends on its own facts.
Working together
Working with Rahman & Company from India
- 01
Initial discussion
Tell us who you are, who else is involved and what you want to achieve. A short call or video meeting is usually enough to understand the matter and agree whether we can help.
- 02
Identifying the UAE legal issues
We identify which questions are governed by UAE law, which emirate, free zone or court is relevant, and where advice under the law of India may also be needed.
- 03
Document review and strategy
Once the scope and fees are agreed, we review the contracts, licences, title documents or correspondence and set out the options and the likely next steps.
- 04
Remote consultation where appropriate
Most discussions can take place by video call and email. Where a UAE step requires a signature, registration or attendance, we explain whether a power of attorney can be used and how it should be prepared.
- 05
Ongoing support and coordination
We keep you informed in writing, deal with UAE counterparties and authorities on your behalf where instructed, and coordinate with your advisers in India.
India is one and a half hours ahead of the UAE, which leaves a long overlap in the working day. Clients may be able to engage the firm remotely where this is legally and practically appropriate. Every engagement is subject to conflict, identity and compliance checks, and no particular outcome can be promised.
Where to find us
Our UAE offices
All officesHead office
Dubai
115, Al Moosa Building 5Al Ghubaiba
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Kerala, India
Calicut
Level 3, Venture ArcadeMavoor Road, above Croma
Thondayad, Kozhikode
Keralam 673016, India+91 88486 43641
Our Kozhikode office provides a point of contact in India; meetings at any office are by appointment. Rahman & Company does not have an office in India unless one is listed here.
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Our knowledge & media
Insights for international clients
All insightsInsightYour next business move starts with the right questions.A practical discussion guide for founders and business owners considering a new venture, partnership or transaction.Read moreOnline event · 18 May 2027UAE Will & Inheritance WorkshopAn online workshop for expatriates, property owners and families on wills, succession, inheritance and estate planning in the UAE.Read moreOnline event · 16 Feb 2027Start a Business Safely in DubaiAn online workshop for new entrepreneurs on company setup, shareholder agreements, key contracts and the regulatory risks to plan for in Dubai.Read moreBlogGrowing your team? Questions to ask before you hire.A short checklist of practical questions to work through before bringing a new person into the business.Read more
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can an Indian company own 100% of a UAE company?
For many activities, yes. UAE mainland companies can be fully foreign-owned in many sectors, and free zone companies can generally be fully foreign-owned. Some activities remain restricted, and Indian regulations on overseas investment also need to be followed on the Indian side.
Can NRIs buy property in Dubai?
Yes. Foreign nationals, including Indian citizens, can buy property in designated freehold areas. How the purchase is funded from India, and its Indian tax treatment, are matters for Indian advisers.
Will my Indian will cover my property in the UAE?
Not necessarily in a straightforward way. UAE assets are dealt with under UAE procedures, and heirs may face delays if no UAE-recognised arrangements are in place. A UAE will can help, and we explain the options for your circumstances.
Can I meet your team in India?
Our office in Kozhikode, Kerala, can arrange meetings by appointment and connects you with our Dubai team. Many matters can also be handled by video call.
Can a UAE judgment be enforced in India?
India has notified the UAE as a reciprocating territory for certain decrees, but whether a particular judgment can be enforced is a question of Indian law. Rahman & Company advises on UAE legal matters; where advice on Indian law is required, separate advice from appropriately qualified counsel in India may be necessary.
Can you review a UAE employment contract before I accept it?
Yes. We review offer letters and contracts, explain probation, notice, gratuity and any restrictive covenants, and highlight points worth raising with the employer.
Do I need to travel to the UAE to obtain legal advice?
Not usually. Most advice can be given by video call and email. Some UAE steps, such as certain registrations or court appearances, may require a properly prepared power of attorney or attendance, and we explain this at the outset. India is one and a half hours ahead of the UAE, which leaves a long overlap in the working day.
Discuss your UAE legal requirements
If you are based in India or connected with it and need advice concerning a business, investment, property, dispute or other legal matter in the UAE, our team can help you understand the relevant legal considerations and next steps. Please do not send confidential documents until an engagement has been agreed.